Lion’s Tail
Separation Anxiety
I have a puzzle that is so difficult to open, and took so long to solve, you might say it gave me some serious “separation anxiety”. It tested my motto that “a good cocktail isn’t puzzling, but a good puzzle might just make you need one”. So let’s indulge that sentiment, shall we? This time of year is great for bourbon and autumn flavors. The Lion’s Tail is a perfect classic cocktail for the season. It features allspice liqueur (also called "pimento dram", because allspice is the dried berry of the pimenta dioica tree, not because it has anything to do with red peppers, of course, but I digress) which evokes flavors of allspice, cinnamon, clove and cardamom in a rum base. Delicious but potent - a little goes a long way. Add that to bourbon and lime for a very satisfying sip which first appeared in the "Cafe Royal Cocktail Book" by William J. Tarling in 1937. To "twist the lion's tail" was to act particularly "British", suggesting this cocktail was the result of a prohibition era London-based expatriate, or so the prevailing theory goes.
The "Separation Anxiety"
With the Spline 3 puzzle box taunting us, rather than allspice liqueur, I substituted Besamim, an unusual spirit which is infused with a mixture of similar spice flavors including cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. Besamim (which means “spice”) is associated with the “Havdalah” ceremony which symbolizes “separation” – the word Havdalah translates as “separation”. How could I not use a liqueur which symbolizes "separation" in a puzzle paired cocktail? Besamim liqueur is made by the same artisanal distillery (Sukkah Hill Spirits) which created Etrog liqueur, another very unusual flavor that I featured in the Harvest Highball. Let this Lion's Tail variation, which I call the “Separation Anxiety” cocktail, calm your nerves as you attempt to separate the Spline Box 3, or any other of Eric Fuller’s devious designs! Cheers!
True to my motto, this puzzle deserves its own cocktail
Separation Anxiety:
2 oz bourbon
½ oz Besamim liqueur (or use Allspice dram)
½ oz fresh lime juice
½ oz demerara syrup
2 Dashes Angostura bitters
Shake ingredients together over ice and strain into a favorite glass. Extremely frustrating puzzle box optional.